Thursday, July 29, 2010

(NSI News Source Info) LADSON, SC - July 29, 2010: Force Protection Industries, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Force Protection Inc. (NASDAQ:FRPT), a leading designer, developer and manufacturer of survivability solutions and provider of total life cycle support for those products, and SNC-Lavalin Defense Contractors, Inc. (TSX:SNC), a Canadian-based provider and one of the leading engineering and construction groups in the world, today announced the formation of a strategic partnership to collaborate on the solution for the Canadian Government’s Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle (“TAPV”) program.

Force Protection Industries, Inc. previously announced that it has been selected by the Canadian Government as one of the competitor companies to provide up to 600 vehicles and related long term support services, with contract award to the final selected bidder in 2011.

Randy Hutcherson, Chief Operating Officer for Force Protection Industries, Inc., said, “We are very pleased to partner with SNC-Lavalin, a highly-respected and experienced company in the Canadian defence sector, to provide the winning solution for the TAPV project. Force Protection Industries and SNC are committed to providing the Canadian Forces with the safest, most reliable vehicle while investing in Canadian industry. We are looking forward to working with SNC as they have a wide range of capabilities and experience that will help shape the winning technical, support, and industrial and regional benefit solution for the Canadian government that will help save the lives of Canadian soldiers.”

Peter Langlais, Senior Vice President and General Manager for SNC, commented, “Force Protection is bringing its expertise in design and supportability for its highly successful Cougar vehicles as the platform for the TAPV solution. Cougars are currently in use by Canada and have been instrumental in ensuring the safe transport of the men and women of the Canadian Forces. The Cougar TAPV will be specifically designed to meet the Canadian Government’s requirements. The primary manufacturing and supportability will be completed in Canada, and Force Protection and SNC will work closely together with other Canadian partners to ensure that Canadian troops get the best possible solution available in terms of safety and performance, as well as a great value for the government.”

About Force Protection, Inc.

Force Protection, Inc. is a leading designer, developer and manufacturer of survivability solutions, including blast- and ballistic-protected wheeled vehicles currently deployed by the U.S. military and its allies to support armed forces and security personnel in conflict zones. The Company’s specialty vehicles, including the Buffalo, Cougar and related variants, are designed specifically for reconnaissance and urban operations and to protect their occupants from landmines, hostile fire, and improvised explosive devices (“IEDs”, commonly referred to as roadside bombs). Complementing these efforts, the Company is designing, developing and marketing new vehicle platforms (including the Ocelot & JAMMA) that provide increased modularity, speed, mobility and concealment with enhanced levels of blast- and ballistic-protection. The Company also develops, manufactures, tests, delivers and supports products and services aimed at further enhancing the survivability of users against additional threats. In addition, the Company provides long-term life cycle support services of its vehicles that involve development of technical data packages, supply of spares, field and depot maintenance activities, assignment of highly-skilled field service representatives, and advanced on and off-road driver and maintenance training programs. For more information on Force Protection and its products and services, visit www.forceprotection.net.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward looking statements that are not historical facts, including statements about our beliefs and expectations. These statements are based on beliefs and assumptions of Force Protection’s management, and on information currently available to management. These forward looking statements include, among other things: the growth, demand and interest for Force Protection’s services and vehicles, including the Cougar; expectations for future modernization and service-related contracts for the Cougar; the benefits and suitability of the Cougar; the ability to meet current and future requirements; the Company’s execution of its business strategy and strategic transformation, including its opportunities to grow the business; and, the Company’s expected financial and operating results, including its revenues, cash flow and gross margins, for future periods. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any of them publicly in light of new information or future events. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Examples of these factors include, but are not limited to, ability to effectively manage the risks in the Company’s business; the ability to develop new technologies and products and the acceptance of these technologies and products; and, the other risk factors and cautionary statements listed in the Company’s periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risks set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 and as updated in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2010.

(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON, U.S. - July 29, 2010: The Department of the Air Force announced today Beale Air Force Base, Calif., as the preferred alternative basing option for the MC-12W.
Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley previously approved six candidate bases. They included Altus Air Force Base, Okla.; Beale Air Force Base, Calif.; Key Field Air National Guard Base, Miss.; Langley Air Force Base, Va.; Robins Air Force Base, Ga.; and Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo.

Site survey teams evaluated all candidate bases for feasibility, timing, cost and planning purposes to meet initial operational capability. As a result of these surveys, the range of reasonable alternatives was reduced to three bases: Beale, Robins, and Whiteman.
“Beale Air Force Base is the preferred alternative for basing the MC-12W aircraft given its access to training opportunities, synergy with existing intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance flying missions, and collocation with the distributed ground station mission” said Kathleen Ferguson, deputy assistant secretary for installations.
A preferred alternative is an alternative which the Air Force believes best fulfills its mission and responsibilities, taking into consideration environmental, operational, technical and other factors. This is not a final basing decision. The preferred alternative with other reasonable alternatives will continue to be evaluated in the environmental impact analysis process.
The MC-12W is a medium- to low-altitude, twin-engine turboprop aircraft. Its primary mission is providing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support directly to ground forces.
The MC-12W capability supports all aspects of the world-wide Air Force irregular warfare mission including counter insurgency, foreign internal defense, and building partnership capacity. For more information contact the Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs Office at 703-695-0640.

(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON, U.S. - July 29, 2010: The Department of the Air Force announced today its actions to consolidate the F-22 fleet. The secretary of the Air Force and the chief of staff of the Air Force determined the most effective basing for the F-22. This requires redistributing aircraft from one F-22 squadron to units at four F-22 bases. A second squadron will be relocated to an existing F-22 base.
The affected bases are:
Holloman Air Force Base, N.M.: Deactivate one squadron of F-22s and disperse that squadron’s aircraft to other F-22 units. Relocate the remaining squadron to Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.

Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska - receive six additional aircraft
Langley Air Force Base, Va. - receive six additional aircraft
Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. - receive two additional aircraft
Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. - receive one additional squadron
“This plan maximizes combat aircraft and squadrons available for contingencies,” said Kathleen Ferguson, deputy assistant secretary for installations. “By consolidating aircraft at existing bases, F-22 operational flexibility is enhanced.”
Teams surveyed four F-22 bases, evaluating them for feasibility, timing, cost, and planning purposes to accept additional F-22 aircraft. The secretary of the Air Force and the chief of staff of the Air Force carefully considered the site survey results and military judgment factors in making these basing determinations. These actions will be finalized subject to completion of appropriate environmental analysis.

(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON, U.S.- July 29, 2010: The Department of the Air Force announced today the preferred alternatives for operational and training F-35 Joint Strike Fighter bases.

Teams surveyed each candidate base for feasibility, timing, cost and planning purposes to meet initial operational capability timelines.
The preferred alternative locations are:
- Operations - Hill Air Force Base, Utah, and Burlington Air Guard Station, Vt.
- Training - Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.
“This is not a final basing decision,” saidKathleen Ferguson, deputy assistant secretary for installations. “The preferred alternatives with other reasonable alternatives will continue to be evaluated in the environmental impact analysis process.”
A preferred alternative is an alternative which the Air Force believes best fulfills its mission and responsibilities, taking into consideration environmental, operational, technical and other factors. Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley previously announced five operations candidate bases Oct. 29, 2009. They included Hill Air Force Base, Utah; Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho; Shaw Air Force Base /McEntire Joint National Guard Base, S.C.; Burlington Air Guard Station, Vt.; and Jacksonville Air Guard Station, Fla.
The secretary announced training base candidates Oct. 29, 2009. They included Boise AGS, Idaho; Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.; Holloman Air Force Base, N.M.; Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.; and Tucson Air Guard Station, Ariz.
The current scope of this basing action includes 250 to 300 F-35 aircraft.
The JSF is the next generation strike fighter bringing cutting-edge technologies to the battle space of the future. In the Air Force, the F-35 will primarily service an air-to-ground role, replace aging the F-16 and A-10 aircraft while complementing the F-22. The Navy and Marine Corps plan on using the F-35, along with international partners.
For more information contact the Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs office at 703-695-0640.
CORRECTION: July 29, 2010 - Beale Air Force Base, Calif., was incorrectly listed and removed.

General Electric Aircraft Engines, Lynn, Mass. is being awarded a maximum $445,281,495 firm-fixed-price, sole-source, requirement-type contract for engine parts. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. The original proposal was Web-solicited with one response. The date of performance completion is March 31, 2011. The Defense Supply Center Richmond, Richmond, Va., is the contracting activity (SPM400-03-D-9404).

PAPCO, Inc.*, Virginia Beach, Va., is being awarded a maximum $61,598,056 firm-fixed-price with economic price adjustment contract for fuel. Other locations of performance are Maryland and Ohio. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force and federal civilian agencies. The original proposal was solicited on the Federal Business Opportunities website with 52 responses. The date of performance completion is July 31, 2013. Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Va., is the contracting activity (SP0600-10-D-4024).

Fannon Petroleum Services*, Gainesville, Va., is being awarded a maximum $35,602,132 fixed-price with economic price adjustment contract for fuel. Other locations of performance are the District of Columbia and Maryland. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force and federal civilian agencies. The original proposal was solicited on the Federal Business Opportunities website with 52 responses. The date of performance completion is July 31, 2013. The Defense Energy Support Center, Fort Belvoir, Va., is the contracting activity (SP0600-10-D-4007).

UNICOR/Federal Prison Industries, Washington, D.C., is being awarded a maximum $7,192,800 fixed-price with economic price adjustment contract for short-sleeve Army t-shirts. Other location of performance is Georgia. Using service is Army. The original proposal was solicited on the Federal Business Opportunities website with 11 responses. The date of performance completion is July 28, 2011. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM1C1-10-D-F016).

BAE Systems Land & Armaments, Ground Systems Division, York, Pa., is being awarded a $64,839,600 modification to previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity delivery order #0013, under previously awarded contract (M67854-07-D-5025) for the purchase of 32 U.S. Special Operations Command Mine Resistant Ambush Protected armored utility vehicles and associated integrated logistics support sustainment. Work will be performed in York, Pa., and is expected to be completed by the July 2011. Contract funds in the amount of $24,448,200 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.

Insitu, Inc., Bingen, Wash., is being awarded a $43,697,168 cost-plus-incentive-fee contract for the engineering, manufacture and development of the small tactical unmanned aircraft system/Tier II unmanned aircraft system III for the Marine Corps. Work will be performed in Bingen, Wash. (46.7 percent), Hood River, Ore. (45.6 percent), and Melbourne, Fla. (7.7 percent). Work is expected to be completed in September 2012. Contract funds in the amount of $788,931 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via an electronic request for proposals, with four proposals received. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, N.J., is the contracting activity (N68335-10-C-0054).

Walbridge-Brasfield & Gorrie, JV*, Detroit, Mich., is being awarded a $40,551,000 firm-fixed-price contract for construction of the Main Exchange replacement at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda. The work to be performed provides for the design and construction of a new facility to provide a two-story main exchange and an elevated parking deck to meet patron and employee parking requirements. Work will be performed in Bethesda, Md., and is expected to be completed by June 2012. Operation and maintenance, Bureau of Medicine contract funds in the amount of $2,913,854 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with 21 proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N40080-10-C-0012).

Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems, Goleta, Calif., is being awarded a $23,935,331 performance-based logistics requirements contract for supply support for weapons replaceable assemblies used in support of the F/A-18 A/B/E/F aircraft. Work will be performed in Goleta, Calif. (65 percent); Jacksonville, Fla. (20 percent); Tucson, Ariz. (5 percent); Forest, Miss. (5 percent); and El Segundo, Calif. (5 percent). Work is expected to be completed by July 2011. Contract funds will not expire before the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively awarded. The Naval Inventory Control Point, Mechanicsburg, Pa., is the contracting activity (N00383-10-D-007D).

Brady G2*, San Diego, Calif. (N62583-09-D-0142); Enviro Compliance Solutions, Inc.*, Tustin, Calif. (N62583-09-D-0143); Accord Engineering, Inc.*, Santa Ana, Calif. (N62583-09-D-0144); RORE-ITSI, JV, LLC*, San Diego, Calif. (N62583-09-D-0145); and Environmental Cost Management, Inc.*, Costa Mesa, Calif. (N62583-09-D-0146), are each being awarded a modification to exercise option year one under previously awarded firm-fixed price 8(a) environmental multiple award contract for performance-based environmental consulting services in support of various Navy, Marine Corps and federal government programs, and other business lines that request assistance throughout the U.S. and its territories from the environmental restoration division of the Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center, Port Hueneme, Calif. The combined total value for all five contractors is $15,000,000. No task orders are being issued at this time. The total contract amount after exercise of this option will be $30,000,000. Work will be performed at locations in (95 percent) and outside (5 percent) the contiguous United States. Work is expected to be July 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Specialty Center Acquisitions, Port Hueneme, Calif., is the contracting activity.

Watts-Obayashi, JV, Honolulu, Hawaii, is being awarded an $11,843,832, firm-fixed-price contract for renovation and construction of a joint support facility. Work will be performed at an unspecified location, and is expected to be completed by September 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Asia Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with two proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Far East, Yokosuka, Japan, is the contracting activity (N40084-10-C-0003).

LRAD Corp.*, San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $6,192,700 firm fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for integrated acoustic hailing devices (IAHD). The IAHD is a remotely controlled component of the shipboard protection system and provides a key capability to instruct, warn and deter approaching threats. Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif., and is expected to be completed by August 2015. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with two offers received. Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane, Ind., is the contracting activity (N00164-10-D-JQ16).

AIR FORCE

CAE USA, Inc., Tampa, Fla., was awarded a $10,643,648.00 contract to purchase seven C-5 avionics modernization program training devices and five reliability enhancement re-engining program training devices for the C-5 aircrew training system for the following users: Air Material Command, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve Command. At this time, $10,643,648.00 has been obligated. GHMKA, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (F8223-10-R-3000/2).

Science Applications International Corp., San Diego, Calif., was awarded a $6,806,644 contract modification which includes pre-deployment preparations and training necessary for personnel to deploy outside the contiguous United States (OCONUS). However, no OCONUS performance is required under this task order. At this time, $6,806,644 has been obligated. Det 1 AFRL/PKSR,Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8650-07-D-1104; Task Order 0004; Modification 7).

DEFENSE FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING SERVICE

Bank of America N.A. Military Bank-Overseas Division, San Antonio, Texas, was awarded fiscal 2011 option of $7,200,000 to provide full banking services that are comparable, in scope and cost, to those available in the continental U.S. to authorized individuals that include: active duty U.S. military personnel; DoD civilian employees who are U.S. citizens; U.S. citizens who are employees of all other U.S. government departments, agencies, private organizations and non-appropriated fund instrumentalities carrying on functions on a DoD installation overseas; as well as authorized family members of such military and civilian employees. The program management office is in San Antonio, Texas; however, the majority of the work is performed on U.S. military facilities in Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Italy, Korea, Diego Garcia, Honduras, Cuba, Japan, Okinawa and the Kwajalein Atoll. Under this optionm work will be performed from Oct. 1, 2010 through Sept. 30, 2011. The Defense Finance and Accounting Service Contract Services Directorate, Columbus, Ohio, is the contracting activity (MDA210-02-D-0003-0010).

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - July 29, 2010: In 8, May 2010, Iran launched the third phase of a major naval exercise in the Strait of Hormuz and the Sea of Oman, it was live on their national TV.
Iran's armed forces in past have launched series of large-scale exercises in the country's territorial waters. The expanded naval drills, codenamed Velayat 89 had lasted for eight days and cover some 250,000 square kilometers of Iranian territorial waters.
During the fourth day of the drill, hovercrafts strafed mock enemy targets while vessels, destroyers, and frigates blocked their advance towards Iran's territorial waters, a TV correspondent reported it live. In another operation, speed boats, backed by Air Force fighters, stopped and captured an invading vessel.
Tactical operations included electronic countermeasures (ECM) as well as disabling enemy radars and communication systems.
The third stage of the drill was with reconnaissance and drone aircrafts conducting interception operations, and was also reported successful.
Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari has said the exercise is to display Iran's "defensive and deterrent power," and send a message of "peace and friendship" to regional states. In another exercises, the Iran's Revolutionary Guards conducted a wide-ranging naval exercise in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, codenamed Great Prophet 5.
Brigadier General Hossein Salami, deputy commander of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), said April's three-day drills were designed to "ensure security in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and the Gulf of Oman."
Iranian military officials have repeatedly warned that if Tehran is attacked, it will retaliate by blocking the Strait of Hormuz. Nearly 40% of the world's seaborne oil shipments pass through the strategically important waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
Meanwhile Iran's Air Force will stage massive week-long drills to start Saturday, a national news agency quoted a senior commander said yesterday.
Air Force Lieutenant Commander for Operations Mohammad Alavi told FNA that the exercises, code named Fada'eyan-e Harreem-e Vellayat (Devotees to the Sanctity of Religious Leadership), will be held July 31 through August 7.
He said 43 warplanes, including ( F-4, F-5, F-7) and Sukhoi Su-24 fighters, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) will take part in the exercises. He said a variety of air-to-surface missiles and other weapons would be test-fired during the drills.
Mr Alavi also stressed that the drills "are aimed at demonstrating the power of the Iranian Air Force and boosting the combat power of different Air Force units."

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - July 29, 2010: DEFENCE firms BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce yesterday cashed in on a drive to boost trade links with India by sealing a £700million deal to supply Hawk jets to the Indian military.
BAE signed a £500million deal to supply 40 Hawks to the country’s air force and 17 to its navy and Rolls-Royce unveiled a £200million contract to build Adour engines for the aircraft, which India will use to train pilots to fly supersonic fighter jets.
BAE announced the deal as Prime Minister David Cameron toured a Hindustan Aeronautics plant in Bangalore during a trade trip to India, one of the world’s biggest defence markets.
The Government is also planning to grant licences to civil nuclear firms to export to India, which could open up business prospects potentially worth billions of pounds for nuclear contractors such as Rolls-Royce and specialist services group Serco.
Cameron said: “This agreement will bring significant economic benefits to both our countries.”
India had ordered 66 Hawk jets from BAE in 2004 and yesterday’s follow-up deal was the first among a series of bilateral trade agreements to be signed during Cameron’s visit. The contract will support about 200 UK jobs.
Indian firm Hindustan Aeronautics will assemble the Hawks under licence in Bangalore using specialist engineering services, raw materials and equipment from BAE.
Hindustan Aeronautics and Rolls-Royce, whose engineering co-operation relationship dates back to 1956, will co-produce the Adour engines. BAE also sells the Hawks to Australia, Canada, South Africa and the Royal Air Force.
BAE chairman Dick Olver said the Hawk deal reflected the importance of government support for the defence industry.
Rolls-Royce defence president Dan Korte said: “This new agreement for the Adour engine further extends our long-standing relationship with the Indian armed forces.”

Abbas was expected to present the results of the US-brokered indirect talks the Arab League approved in May for a four-month period to the meeting of foreign ministers and representatives.
Abbas has so far accepted holding only indirect talks with Israel, which has rejected his conditions for face-to-face negotiations.
Thursday's meeting is expected to back Abbas's condition that Israel guarantee a Palestinian state based on pre-1967 war borders between the Jewish state and east Jerusalem and the West Bank.
"The issue is not US pressure, the issue is what is in the Palestinians' interests," Arab League official Hisham Yussef, who heads Secretary General Amr Mussa's office, told AFP.
"Their interest from their perspective is clear -- they want to see progress in the proximity talks and we support them."
Abbas also wants an end to settlement construction in east Jerusalem and the West Bank. Israel acceded to US pressure to limit settlement building in the West Bank until September, when a moratorium ends.
The Palestinian leader repeated his conditions on the eve of the meeting in an interview with Egyptian newspaper editors, the official Egyptian MENA news agency reported on Thursday.
Abbas said he would tell the meeting that if there was "no serious vision relating to the 1967 borders and an end to settlements then I cannot enter direct negotiations.
"When I receive the demanded guarantees which are the acceptance of the 1967 borders and an end to settlements... I will immediately enter negotiations," MENA quoted Abbas as saying.
He said he was facing "pressures I have never faced before in my life from the American administration and the European Union and the secretary general of the United Nations," and added he would step down if he saw "matters are not going well."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he is willing to meet Abbas to discuss all the core issues of the decades-old conflict, and has accused the Palestinians of avoiding engaging in direct talks.
Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erakat told an Arab newspaper this week that US President Barack Obama told the Palestinians in a letter that he will help found a Palestinian state only if they begin direct talks with Israel.
Abbas suspended direct negotiations with Israel after its offensive on the Islamist Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip in December 2008 in response to rocket fire.
He has demanded that the talks pick up from where he left off with then prime minister Ehud Olmert, a condition rejected by Netanyahu's government.

CAIRO (AFP) - Arab officials agreed on Thursday to the holding of direct Middle East peace negotiations and left it up to Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas to decide when to start talks with Israel, the Qatari prime minister and foreign minister said. More »

JERUSALEM (AFP) - An Arab man jailed for 18 months for duping a Jewish woman into consensual sex by lying about his ethnicity has appealed his sentence to Israel's supreme court, media reported on Thursday. More »

MOSCOW (AFP) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday signed into a law a bill expanding the powers of the successor to the KGB security service which critics say will give it Soviet-style powers. More »

CAIRO (AFP) - Arab officials began crucial talks with Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas on Thursday to decide whether he will begin direct negotiations with Israel amid pressure from the United States. More »

BAGHDAD (AFP) - The retrial of an Iraqi man convicted of killing British aid worker Margaret Hassan was adjourned again on Thursday because the imprisoned defendant could not be found, a court official said. More »

BEIRUT (AFP) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will accompany Saudi King Abdullah to Lebanon on Friday for a summit aimed at easing tensions in Lebanon, the Lebanese presidency confirmed on Thursday. More »